A POPULAR Las Vegas casino and hotel was demolished in the middle of the night.

A controlled implosion took place at 2 am, bringing in dozens of onlookers.

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The controlled implosion took place around 2:00amCredit: Getty
 

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The building closed in 2020 and never reponedCredit: Getty
 

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Smoke was seen filling the air after the implosionCredit: Getty
The Eastside Cannery Casino-Hotel demolition marks the end of an era for the property that closed its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic over five years ago, according to FOX5 Vegas.

The property, owned by Boyd Gaming Corp., never reopened.

The implosion took place early on Thursday, March 5, when a loud boom was heard before the middle and sides of the building caved in.

The building went down quickly, within 10 seconds of the loud noise, with dust and debris spewing in the air.

People could be heard yelling as it happened, with one person shouting, “That was so worth it,” according to FOX5.

Smoke engulfed the area with palm trees shaking in the wind following its collapse.

Footage showed wood and other building materials stacked on top of each other and covered in ash after the collapse.

Next door marketing opportunity

The company asked the public to stay away from the property, saying no public viewing was allowed on-site during the implosio

But, curious onlookers were able to score front row seating from the Longhorn Casino-Hotel across the street.

Longhorn Casino-Hotel opened its front parking lot for the implosion, charging $25 per car.

“Our deals and customer service, we really pride ourselves on what we have,” Heather Beam, the marketing director at the Longhorn, told FOX5.

“It’s a great way to build new clientele and show them the Longhorn.”

Beam said the casino-hotel was also offering guests $20 in slot play and small bags of popcorn, “so it could feel like you are watching a movie.”

Longhorn was also giving out commemorative t-shirts for the event.

‘Bring ’em down’

One onlooker, Mark Carson, brought his guitar and secured a parking spot across from the site.

“I want to watch it, I want to feel it,” Carson told FOX5.

“I’m a retired carpenter. I spent all my career building them. This will be the first time I watch it in real life, bring ‘em down.”

Gus Biner told the outlet he drove from San Diego to watch the building collapse, saying it was one of his favorite casinos.

“It’s just I have never seen a building come down live, you always see it on the news but never live,” he said.

Sue Jaszekowski, another implosion attendee, said the demolition felt personal as she met “so many great people” at the casino.

“They had the best nightclub on top — and happy hour martini night on Friday nights was the best,” she said.

Peace out for housing

The Eastside Cannery first opened in 2008, but closed during the pandemic as Americans were asked to social distance.

Despite restrictions eventually being lifted, it did not reopen.

Boyd Gaming bought the Eastside Cannery Casino-Hotel parent company Cannery Casino Resorts in 2016.

“There is not sufficient market demand to reopen the facility,” a Boyd Gaming spokesperson told FOX5 in October.

The company is working to sell the property for it to become a residential housing development.

Attendees had mixed reviews about the chance of the area being used for new homes.

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“I am not excited about that at all,” Jaszekowski told FOX5.

“I like progress, and I like seeing the progress,” said Carson.

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The building’s owner said there was not enough demand to reopen the buildingCredit: AP
 

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The building collapsed less than 10 seconds after a loud boom was heardCredit: AP
 

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The building collapsed less than 10 seconds after a loud boom was heardCredit: Getty
 

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An aerial view of the Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel that first opened in 2008Credit: Getty